Some believe Elim was at Wady Ghurundel (Wadi Gharandel) an oasis in the western Sinai Peninsula, the most noted of the four wadies which descend from the range of et-Tih towards the sea. Here they probably remained for a considerable time. They left Elim 2½ months after leaving Egypt (Exodus 16:1).

The form of expression in Exodus 16:1 seems to imply that the people proceeded in detachments or companies from Elim, and only for the first time were assembled as a complete host when they reached the wilderness of Sin.